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I recently learned about the Buddhist teaching “See the Glass as Already Broken”. This concept is about recognizing that everything has a beginning and an end, and remembering this can help you appreciate what you have in the moment (whether it’s a glass, car, phone, or a sweatshirt) and feel less pain and more acceptance once it’s gone. Life is in a constant state of change- everything will crumble, it’s just a matter of when. This got me thinking about relationships. If we accepted that ours would inevitably end (and I’m not talking when death-does-us-part), wouldn’t we approach it differently? Wouldn’t we enjoy every moment a little more, and dwell on issues a little less? Wouldn’t each other’s flaws seem far more trivial? Would our relationship last longer the moment we stop telling it it has to?
Forgive my Carrie Bradshaw moment here, but when it comes to romantic relationships- is the promise of forever what ultimately tears us apart?

Finished my second mixed media piece today! This little leaping lady wore a few different outfits (an American dollar bill, a circuit board, and a decorated Christmas tree) before I decided the painted look works best for her.

It’s interesting how your creative outlets change over time. Now that my income relies primarily on my writing and social media skills, I’m more inclined to get crafty on the living room floor with a pair of scissors and 10 shredded newspapers. Happy Sunday! xx

I sat on the floor with a stack of magazines, newspapers, scissors and Scream Queens on in the background. I didn’t know what I set out to make, but I knew the minute it was finished. After admiring other artists’ mixed media pieces for what feels like a lifetime, it feels so good to release my own into the wild. I’m curious- what does this piece say to you?

When I was 11 I decided I was going to start designing and sewing my own clothes. With limited sewing skills and no patience to follow a pattern, I got busy cutting and glueing pieces together until I had made a pink and blue “tank top” that more closely resembled a children’s swimsuit and was totally unwearable. Sadly, that was the end of my designing career- until the creative team at eShakti reached out and asked if I’d like to try my hand at a little custom dress designing.

The process is super simple. You choose a base that you love (I chose this denim shift dress), and then you customize it with all of your measurements (height, arm length, hips, waist, chest, shoulders) and the style of the dress that suits you best- neckline, length of dress, sleeves or no sleeves, pockets or no pockets.

Then the team at eShakti gets to work and you sit back and wait for your creation to arrive. I’m pleased with how it came out, and even more pleased that the waist tie doubles as a choker necklace! You can use coupon code STATEANDOCCUPATION at checkout to save 10% on your totally customized design.

PS: Shakti in Sanskrit means “power.” As in you have the power to choose a design that flatters your body; as in eShakti’s staff in India are empowered to make a living for their families in safe, fair and comfortable working conditions. eShakti is transparent about the way your clothes are made, and I think that’s so important. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

I always feel the summer-is-over-get-me-a-scarf vibes as soon as September hits, despite the first official day of fall not being for another couple of weeks. Today I’m sharing some photos from the adventures my head, hands and heart have experienced this summer in Vancouver, Hawaii and New York if you’d like to see!

Vancouver

Outdoor movie night in Stanley Park

The view of the sunset from our teeny balcony

Relaxing in the Dub Tub on our rooftop

Home

English Bay Sunsets

My first summer in Vancouver has felt like a permanent vacation. Our home is so perfect and honestly where I want to be 99% of the time. I didn’t know if I would fall in love with Vancouver, or how long it would take for it to feel like home, but I absolutely have and it absolutely does.

Hawaii

Ben and Marlee’s wedding day in Oahu.

This day was full of play.

Monkey in his element 😉

Watching the sunset in Oahu.

Our little beach on the North Shore.

Bliss.

Biking (minutes before getting drenched in a tropical storm).

Swoon.

Waikiki.

My dad used to keep a shell in the basement of our childhood home that he told us we could hear the ocean from. He would also throw us Hawaiian luaus complete with leis, grass skirts, the fireplace crackling away and of course, Hawaiian pizza- so it’s no wonder I’ve been dying to go my entire life. Our beautiful friends got married on the North Shore of Oahu in July and Tim and I were lucky enough to witness it- and do a LOT of playing along the way. I think about Hawaii almost daily and cannot wait to go back and explore more of the islands.

New York

Giving my girl some love.

On top of the Rockefeller Centre.

Admiring my favourite (and only) souvenir.

Times Square!

The view from floor 68.

Happy birthday, sweet sister!

I highly disagreed, but loved this sign.

The Statue of Liberty from the ferry.

My sister and I have dreamed about going to New York together since we were little kids, and we made that dream come true over the long weekend to celebrate her birthday. We ate way too many bagels and took in everything we possibly could in 48 hours including wine at a rooftop bar, the views on the top of the Rockefeller Center, the nonstop buzz of Times Square, Grand Central Station, Little Italy, a ferry ride under the Brooklyn Bridge and a visit with the Statue of Liberty (which I didn’t realize would be my highlight of the trip. So impactful!).

There are few things that catch my attention as aggressively as flowers do (sunsets being one of them). Since moving to Vancouver in the spring my obsession has only gotten stronger, so today’s post is an ode to all things petalled.

For just $99, this little piece of technology will raise your flower babies for you. It sits in the pot and waters them as necessary, and sends a notification to your phone if there’s a lack of sunlight or fertilizer. Green thumbs for everybody!

Face the Foliage has been one of my favorite projects to follow along with on Instagram. The ones Frida Kahlo and her wild brows are my fave!

12 dresses made out of real live flowers. Equal parts magical and impractical.

State & Occupation has been on my mind lately, and in my quest for a little inspo to get back at it I went browing through my drafts and found a small collection of unfinished, unpolished and unposted bits of writing from the last couple of years. I’m sharing their unedited selves below if you’d like to take a read.

February 14, 2015
You haven’t spent a Valentines Day alone in 5 years and today marks the 6th. You don’t feel lonely much. You are lucky, probably one of the luckiest people you know. You’re sure of this because one time you went on a spinning ride at the local fair and after entire contents of your purse spilled out below you, a stranger walked up holding your only set of car keys. You found someone who says things like “I love your big feet”. You were born with a level of confidence in yourself you’re sure is rare, even if it doesn’t always extend in to the important things like body image.

December 24, 2015Emmy Lou the cheerful pom joined our family this summer after my Papa died. He was living in a tiny old apartment and she was the only one with him in the room after he passed. I thought having her move in would be a constant reminder of sadness, but she has brought so much light into our home. Just a month before this, my Grandpa passed away as well. My dad had been up visiting just a couple weeks prior and asked my Grandpa if he had any special requests to add the the grocery list. My Grandpa requested donuts, so my Dad complied and picked up a box of glazed donuts. When he brought all the groceries in, the donuts fell out and were left in the vehicle. I cried a lot in the days that followed because I couldn’t grasp the fact that my Grandpa would never feel the sun again, and that he didn’t get his donuts.

January 20, 2016
I take great pleasure in making friends with my cab drivers. A few months ago I opened the door on a mission to make it to a Mexican bar when I recognized the man driving as my latest favourite cab driver!
“It’s you! I’m so happy to see you, do you remember me?” I asked as I got in while my crew buckled themselves into the backseat.
“Of course I remember you!” he answered smiling. “We drove all over. We drove your friends home, and then I dropped you off at your ex-boyfriends!”
I gasped and screamed and explained to him the life ruining dangers of mixing up the details.
“No no no no no, you dropped me off at my CURRENT boyfriends house, Alan. Never say that again. That could be life-ruining. Do you have an aux cord?”

PS– I have a few things planned for new posts in the coming weeks.
Thank you as always for your eyes. xo
[images via: left, middle, right]

A few months ago I started setting my alarm for 5am every morning. I’d get up, read a little, drink a coffee, and then take our sweet dog Em for a walk to watch the sunrise- all before starting work at 8am. I did this based on the notion floating around that getting up early is the key to happiness- and I did experience a lot of happiness. I would wake up excited for a mug of coffee and even more excited to see what the sunrise would look like that day. Each morning on my walk through the country roads, I would cross paths with an old man wearing a fluorescent safety vest. He’d say good morning, pet Em, make the same joke about taking her home with him and then carry on. One morning when we crossed paths he had something for me- a fluorescent safety vest.
“There!” he said, satisfied with himself after adjusting it on my shoulders. “Now you’ll be safe.” I’m just not sure if that kind of sweetness exists in the regular hours of the day.

Happy Sunday! Enjoy a little roundup of clickables:
– An Instagram account you didn’t know you needed to follow.
– A quote on the lasting effects of love.
– An article for creatives appropriately titled, You Don’t Get to Decide What’s Good.
xo!